Tom Koutsantonis | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Minister for Infrastructure and Transport | |
| Assumed office 24 March 2022 | |
| Premier | Peter Malinauskas |
| Preceded by | Corey Wingard |
| Minister for Energy and Mining (2022–present) Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy (2011–2018) | |
| Assumed office 24 March 2022 | |
| Premier | Peter Malinauskas |
| Preceded by | Dan van Holst Pellekaan |
| In office 21 October 2011 – 19 March 2018 | |
| Premier | Jay Weatherill |
| Preceded by | Paul Holloway |
| Treasurer of South Australia | |
| In office 26 March 2014 – 19 March 2018 | |
| Premier | Jay Weatherill |
| Preceded by | Jay Weatherill |
| Succeeded by | Rob Lucas |
| Member of the South Australian Parliament for West Torrens | |
| Assumed office 9 February 2002 | |
| Member of the South Australian Parliament for Peake | |
| In office 11 October 1997 – 9 February 2002 | |
| Preceded by | Heini Becker |
| Succeeded by | District abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Anastasios Koutsantonis 23 August 1971 Woodville, South Australia |
| Political party | Australian Labor Party (SA) |
| Spouse | Anthea |
| Religion | Greek Orthodox |
| Website | www |
Anastasios "Tom" Koutsantonis is an Australian politician in the South Australian Branch of the Australian Labor Party, representing the seats of West Torrens (2002−current) and Peake (1997−2002) as a Labor member in the South Australian House of Assembly.
He served as Treasurer of South Australia and minister for other portfolios in the Weatherill cabinet between 2011 and 2018. Since March 2022 Koutsantonis has served as the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport and the Minister for Energy and Mining in the Malinauskas ministry.
A Greek-Australian, Koutsantonis was born in Adelaide and attended Netley Primary School and Adelaide High School. As a student at the University of Adelaide he became involved in Australian Young Labor, drove taxis and went on to run a small business before[citation needed] becoming an industrial officer for the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association (SDA) in the 1990s.[1]
Koutsantonis was elected to the seat of Peake (now West Torrens) at the 1997 election on a margin of 4.5 points, then by 8.6 points at the 2002 election, and by 18.3 points at the 2006 election, after which Koutsantonis was elevated to the chairmanship of the economic and advisory committee.
In 2009, he was appointed to cabinet;[2] Koutsantonis has served in a range of ministerial portfolios with responsibility for finance, state development, mineral resources and energy, small business, ministerial resources and energy, and for road safety,[3] where Koutsantonis was forced to apologise for his "unacceptable" driving record which listed 58 traffic offences and over $10,000 in fines. He subsequently resigned the road safety portfolio.[4]
Following the retirement of Liberal's Rob Lucas at the 2022 state election, Koutsantonis became the longest serving member of the South Australian Parliament.[5] His long-serving parliamentary service was recognised by Labor leader Peter Malinauskas in his victory speech on election night. After the election, Malinauskas appointed Koutsantonis as Minister for Infrastructure and Transport and Minister for Energy and Mining.[6]